We’ve done a lot of thinking the past few weeks in regards to custom themes/backgrounds on the Sidekick 3. Everyone and their brother knows about the undocumented but easily accessible custom themes feature on the Sidekick 3 now. We’ve even gone as far as to put up a site with with 4000+ Sidekick 3 themes submitted!

At the same time that we’re enjoying this customization, there’s a lot of talk about how the next OTA may disable this feature in order for TMobile to sell Sidekick users premade wallpapers. In all honesty, we’re hoping they’ll realize that for every custom made theme, that’s one more Sidekick 3 that will be pulled out of a pocket to show off to a friend. One more custom hinge sound that noone has ever heard on a phone that will draw the attention of strangers when you flip the screen.

Is it wrong to think that custom themes are a good thing, both for users of the Sidekick 3 as well as TMobile? With the new themes, we all get a chance to make the phone “ours” whether it means loading a background of Jay-Z, a pair of Nikes, Mariah Carey, Tron, or our geeky favorite, a light saber sound for the screen. In our opinion, this makes us even more devoted and attached to the glossy little gadget.

Looks like Gizmodo is jumping into the speculation and rumor business even more than us! Looking way back to the roadmap that was leaked out, they’re speculating on limited editions being available in October. We haven’t heard anything about Limited Edition Sidekick 3s yet, and we would wager that TMobile/Danger would hold off on releasing these for awhile.
The Sidekick 3 has only been out officially for a month. Yes, the device that we’ve all grown to love is still an infant on the market. If we go by the timeline floating on the tubes and adjust for the real release date, that puts limited editions scheduled in Jan 2007, 6 months after to release. This would make sense from a marketing and business perspective. Drop the first device, enjoy the hype for 6 months, then when it’s starting to die down, drop the limited editions, pumping up the marketing hype again. We all know that the Sidekick works off of viral marketing, and that the best advertisement is not necessarily flashy commercials or shiny flyers, but someone showing it off to a friend.

Looking for an extra battery? Looks like TMobile has started selling them for $69.99. A bit pricey, but if you need one, you need one. Looks like these are fresh on the site, as they’re giving a processing errors when trying to select them. By the time you read this, it’ll probably be fixed though.

Want to change the background on your Sidekick 3? It’s possible! Check out the thread on our forum for more info. We’re also working on something to make it real easy for anyone to create a theme from a picture. Stay tuned!

Want to download some pre-created themes? sk3themes.com has some already!

Got a picture and want to make your own theme? Check out the SK3 Theme Generator

For all you SunCom users, rejoice. You can preorder you Hiptop 3 for $299.99! (with a 2year agreement) They’re saying it will be available in the Fall of 2006. (Way to be specific guys.) As expected, SunCom is going to get what looks to be a cooler Phone screen, but the device otherwise looks the same. Here’s the link to the official page.

There have been rumors of TMobile rolling out UMA sometime in the near future. Looks like some pictures of TMobile’s UMA beta test kits have leaked out recently. The kit appears to consist of a UMA enabled phone (Samsung T709) plus a wireless router (DLink or Linksys). So why the heck are we reporting this on here? That’s no Sidekick 3! Remember that old post about the Sidekick roadmap? Here’s the pic:

Notice the Sidekick 3 with UMA? Does this mean the roadmap was an lucky fake or does it give some validity to it? The release of the Sidekick 3 was pretty close (about 2 months) and we all have heard about the Sidekick 3 Razr. Are we just grapsing at false hope here? What we’re wondering is how they’re going to fit anything else in the device without absolutely killing the battery life.

Article on Engadget

We took a quick look for some new Sidekick 3 skins and found a ton of them that are available now! As always, all the skins on one page can be found on our Sidekick 3 Skins page. Here’s the new stuff we’ve found:

Sidekick 3 Ace heart Gel Skin	Sidekick 3 Ace Heart S. Rhinestone Gel Skin
Sidekick 3 Ace Spade S. Rhinestone Gel Skin	Sidekick 3 Black & White Heart pattern Gel Skin
Sidekick 3 Basketball Gel Skin	Sidekick 3 Black Dice Gel Skin
Sidekick 3 Blue Glitter Gel Skin	Sidekick 3 Bright Orange Glitter Gel Skin
Sidekick 3 Bright Purple Heart Pattern Gel Skin	Sidekick 3 Carbon Fiber Gel Skin
Sidekick 3 Carbon Fiber Gel Skin	Sidekick 3 Colorful Arygle Gel Skin
Sidekick 3 Colorful Pattern Gel Skin	Sidekick 3 Fashion patter Gel Skin
Sidekick 3 Fashion Pattern Gel Skin	Sidekick 3 Fashion Pattern Gel Skin
Sidekick 3 Fashion Pattern Gel Skin	Sidekick 3 Fashion Pattern Gel Skin
Sidekick 3 Fashion Pattern Gel Skin	Sidekick 3 Fashion Pattern Gel Skin
Sidekick 3 Flame Mustang Gel Skin	Sidekick 3 Flame Tribal Gel Skin
Sidekick 3 Flower & Butterfly Gel Skin	Sidekick 3 Flower Friendship Gel Skin
Sidekick 3 Flower Gel Skin	Sidekick 3 Flower Glitter & S. Rhinestone Gel Skin
Sidekick 3 Flower Pattern S. Rhinestone Gel Skin	Sidekick 3 Gel Balck S. Rhinestone Skin
Sidekick 3 Heart Pattern Gel Skin	Sidekick 3 Hot Pink S. Rhinestone Gel Skin
Sidekick 3 Pink Buterfy Rhinestone Gel Skin	Sidekick 3 Radiation sign Gel Skin

Thanks to the fine folk at Incipio for hooking us up with a prototype of the new Sidekick 3 carrying case they’re coming out with. I dropped my Sidekick 3 into it right away to give it a try.

Let me start by saying I’m not normally a “carrying case person.” My Sidekick usually rides in my pocket, with a screen protector (after I make sure to lock it so noone gets a call from my pants). As far as cases go, I liked the Incipio design. It’s a horizontal case, made of leather, with contrasting stitching and a magnetic clasp. The magnetic clasp is so much better than velcro, especially when you’re in a meeting and sneaking the Sidekick out. The magnet isn’t super strong, so it’s easy to undo, but strong enough to keep your SK3 well situated should you bend down or something.

The prototype has a nice snug fit, but not too tight. Anyone that got the OEM Sidekick II cases knows how much of a pain it is when your phone doesn’t slide in and out easily. These cases were custom designed around the Sidekick 3 so the case takes into account the form factor of the device. One small detail that pointed this out to me was the ease it was to quickly “thumb” the device out through the hole in the bottom. As I mentioned, this was a prototype and I was told the fit wasn’t perfect yet so they were still tweaking it. Seemed pretty good to me, so I can only imagine the final product is better.

The carrying case also comes with two small pockets on the inside for carrying extra miniSD cards. So for those that can’t fit all their music on a 2gb card, you can carry an extra 4gb (or 8gb when the 4gb miniSDs arrive) waiting to be swapped out.

Do you remember how the Sidekick II had the rubber bumpers? This made it excellent for leaning up against things. At work I would always set my Sidekick II upright, leaning against my monitor so I knew if I got a message when it was on silent. The rubber bumpers were just enough resistance to keep it upright. I was disappointed when I found that my Sidekick 3 was not so easy to keep upright like this. With Incipio’s case, problem solved! Remove your Sidekick 3 and flip the screen, tuck the magnetic clasp and slide it back in as shown in the photo. the angle of the belt clip keeps it upright stylishly. I’m hoping they’re all like this, but if not all it should take is a small bend in the end of the belt clip with a pair of plyers.

The only downside, and it was just me being picky, I found to the carrying case was the location of the charging plug. When the device is all the way in the case, the side blocks access to the plug. Simple enough fix though, simply slide the device up a millimeter or two, and easy access. Alternatively, slide it into the case upside down. The USB port is easily accessible though, for when you need to dump some new MP3s onto your Sidekick.

The Sidekick II cases from Incipio are already available and are the same quality. The Sidekick 3 actually fits in them, but is a bit harder to get out without hitting the shoulder buttons. The Sidekick 3 carrying cases should be available soon. They’ll come in an assortment of colors, so you’re not necessarily stuck with black. We’ve been told to expect Black, Red, Pink,
Grey, and Bone White. Click to jump to Incipio’s Sidekick Case page and check them out.

Don’t miss the Sidekick 3 party in your town! If you’re going to one, post in the forum and meet up with some of the other members of this site! Here’s the schedule that was posted on www.sidekick.com as of the posting of this:

Atlanta

August 19, 2006: Sidekick 3 Boutique Trunk Show
MetroPark: Perimeter Mall, 4400 Ashford-Dunwoody Road #2405, Atlanta, GA 30346
See the latest trends in fashion and technology. Plus, get a chance to check out the Sidekick 3.
MetroPark USA

August 19, 2006: Sidekick 3 Boutique Trunk Show
MetroPark: MetroPark: Lenox Square Mall, 3393 Peachtree Road, NE, #2036A, Atlanta, GA 30326
See the latest trends in fashion and technology. Plus, get a chance to check out the Sidekick 3.
MetroPark USA

September 3, 2006: Q100 “The Bert Show Fall Singles Carnival”
Location: TBD
Win tickets for you and three friends to the exclusive Sidekick 3 VIP lounge at this matchmaking event. With the help of Sidekick 3, this could be your chance to meet that guy or girl.
Q100

Chicago

August 18-19, 2006: Teen People Rock N’ Shop
Woodfield Mall: Comcast Connections Court 5 Woodfield Mall, Schaumburg, IL 60173-5012
Rock the shopping scene as Teen People hosts live performances, makeovers and a chance to win a Sidekick 3.
Teen People Rock ‘N Shop

September 21, 2006: Girls’ Night Out, Sidekick Lounge
The Great Hall @ Chicago Union Station: 210 S. Canal Street, Chicago, IL 60606
Bring your girls out to experience designer shopping, makeup and goodie bags— all while sipping your favorite cocktails. Mix that with some girl talk, and you’ve got a night to remember.
Shecky’s

Dallas

July 28-29, 2006: Teen People Rock ‘N Shop
The Shops at Willow Bend: Center Court, 6121 W. Park Boulevard, Plano, TX 75093
Rock the shopping scene as Teen People hosts live performances, makeovers and a chance to win a Sidekick 3.
Teen People Rock ‘N Shop

August 11, 2006: 106 KISS FM “Sidekick 3 Soiree”
O Bar: 1602 Main St. Suite B, Dallas, TX 75201
Win tickets for you and three friends to our matchmaking event. With the help of Sidekick 3, this could be your chance to meet that guy or girl.
106.1 Kiss FM

Las Vegas

July 28, 2006: MySpace and Sidekick 3 Summer Series
Pure Nightclub: 3570 S. Las Vegas Blvd., Las Vegas, NV 89109
Enjoy a series of summer fun with your friends at MySpace and check out the new Sidekick 3.
MySpace

August 26, 2006: Boutique Trunk Show
MetroPark: Fashion Show Mall, 3200 Las Vegas Blvd. South, Suite 2290, Las Vegas, NV 89109
See the latest trends in fashion and technology. Plus, get a chance to check out the Sidekick 3.
MetroPark USA

Los Angeles

July 8, 2006: Sidekick 3 Boutique Trunk Show
Iconology: 353 South La Brea Ave., Los Angeles, CA
See the latest trends in fashion and technology. Plus, get a chance to check out the Sidekick 3.

July 21-22, 2006: Teen People Rock ‘N Shop
Brea Mall: Center Court, 1065 Brea Mall Way, Brea, CA 92821
Rock the shopping scene as Teen People hosts live performances, makeovers and a chance to win a Sidekick 3.
Teen People Rock ‘N Shop

August 4, 2006: MySpace and Sidekick 3 Summer Series
Element: 1642 N. Las Palmas Ave., Los Angeles, CA
Enjoy a series of summer fun with your friends at MySpace and check out the new Sidekick 3.
MySpace

Miami

July 15-18, 2006: Miami Swim Week
Raleigh Hotel: 1775 Collins Avenue, Miami Beach, FL 33139
See how the T-Mobile Sidekick 3 captured the Shay Todd 2007 Collection @ Miami Swim Week.
Shay Todd

August 3, 2006: Sidekick 3 Boutique Trunk Show
Studio LX: 5814 Sunset Drive, South Miami, FL 33143
See the latest trends in fashion and technology. Plus, get a chance to check out the Sidekick 3.

New York

July 20, 2006: Power 105.1 Singles Soiree “The Official Sidekick 3 Pool Party”
Hotel QT: 125 W 45th St., New York, NY 10036
Win tickets for you and three friends to our matchmaking event. With the help of Sidekick 3, this could be your chance to meet that guy or girl.
Power 105.1 FM

July 22 & 29, August 5, 12, 19 & 26, 2006: Mercedes Benz Bridgehampton Polo Challenge
Two Trees Farm: Hayground Road, Bridgehampton, New York
Beat the summer heat at the Sidekick Lounge with a game of polo and high-class excitement.
Mercedes Benz Bridgehampton Polo Challenge

August 2, 2006: MySpace and Sidekick 3 Summer Series
Guest House: 532 W 27th Street, New York, NY 10001
Enjoy a series of summer fun with your friends at MySpace and check out the new Sidekick 3.
MySpace

August 11-12, 2006: Teen People Rock N’ Shop
Westfield Garden State Plaza: One Garden State Plaza, Paramus, NJ 07652
Rock the shopping scene as Teen People hosts live performances, makeovers and a chance to win a Sidekick 3.
Teen People Rock ‘N Shop

September 12, 2006: Sidekick 3 Boutique Trunk Show (showcase featured all month)
Shecky’s: 489 Broome St., New York, NY 10013
See the latest trends in fashion and technology. Plus, get a chance to check out the Sidekick 3.
Shecky’s

October 10-12, 2006: Girls’ Night Out, Sidekick Lounge
The Puck Building: 295 Lafayette St., New York, NY 10012
Bring your girls out to experience designer shopping, makeup and goodie bags— all while sipping your favorite cocktails. Mix that with some girl talk, and you’ve got a night to remember.
Shecky’s

Palm Beach County

August 4-5, 2006: Teen People Rock ‘N Shop
The Mall at Wellington Green: The Grand Court, 10300 W. Forest Hill Blvd., Wellington, FL 33414
Rock the shopping scene as Teen People hosts live performances, makeovers and a chance to win a Sidekick 3.
Teen People Rock ‘N Shop

Philadelphia

August 10, 2006: 93.3 Rock “Painfully Single Mixer” Singles Soiree
The Lagoon (nightclub on Delaware Riverfront): 101 Taylor Ave., Essington, PA 19029
Win tickets for you and three friends to our matchmaking event. With the help of Sidekick 3, this could be your chance to meet that guy or girl.
93.3 WMMR-FM

San Francisco

August 5, 2006: MySpace and Sidekick 3 Summer Series
Loft 11: 316 11th St., San Francisco, CA 94103
Enjoy a series of summer fun with your friends at MySpace and check out the new Sidekick 3.
MySpace

October 26, 2006: Girls’ Night Out, Sidekick Lounge
Nob Hill Masonic Center: 1111 California St., San Francisco, CA 94108
Bring your girls out to experience designer shopping, makeup and goodie bags— all while sipping your favorite cocktails. Mix that with some girl talk, and you’ve got a night to remember.
Shecky’s

Seattle

July 14-15, 2006: Teen People Rock ‘N Shop
Westfield Southcenter: Center Court, 633 Southcenter, Seattle, WA 98188
Rock the shopping scene as Teen People hosts live performances, makeovers and a chance to win a Sidekick 3.
Teen People Rock ‘N Shop

July 29, 2006: KUBE 93.3 “Sidekick 3, Summer Jam Launch Party” Backstage BBQ
White River Amphitheater: 40601 Auburn Enumclaw Road, Auburn, WA 98092
Win tickets for you and three friends to the exclusive Sidekick 3 Backstage BBQ at Summer Jam and a chance to meet some of today’s hottest stars.
KUBE 93 Summer Jam

Washington DC

August 20, 2006: DC101 WWDC-FM “Eliot’s Singles and Sidekicks Party”
Fur Nightclub: 33 Patterson Street NE, Washington, D.C. 20002
Win tickets for you and three friends to our matchmaking event. With the help of Sidekick 3, this could be your chance to meet that guy or girl.
DC101

September 13, 2006: Sidekick 3 Boutique Trunk Show
Demin Bar: 1330 Maryland Avenue SW, Washington D.C., 20024
See the latest trends in fashion and technology. Plus, get a chance to check out the Sidekick 3.

What’s going to happen on August 11th? www.sidekick.com says to check back for more on August 11th. We haven’t heard anything about what this means. It may just be goodies on the websites, more flash fun or something. Maybe they’re releasing a Game Boy emulator? Or just an OTA? Some people are speculating video playback, although we doubt it. What do you think?